Expanding absorbable tack

ABSTRACT

A surgical fastener is disclosed, and includes a head section and a tissue snaring section. The head section includes an engagement member pivotably disposed on an outer surface of the head section. The tissue snaring section defines a longitudinal axis and extends away from the head section. At least one helical thread defined along an outer surface of the tissue snaring section. The tissue snaring section is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis in a first radial direction, and the engagement member is configured pivot outwardly from the head section in the first radial direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/857,709, filed Jul. 24, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to surgical fasteners, and more particularly, to surgical features including an engagement member and associated methods of applying.

2. Description of Related Art

In hernias, such as direct or indirect inguinal hernias, a part of the intestine protrudes through a defect in the support abdominal wall to form a hernial sac. The defect may be repaired using an open surgery procedure in which a relatively large incision is made and the hernia is closed off outside the abdominal wall by suturing. The mesh is attached with sutures over the opening to provide reinforcement.

In contrast, minimally invasive, e.g., endoscopic or laparoscopic, surgical procedures are currently available to repair a hernia. In laparoscopic procedures, surgery is performed in the abdomen through a small incision while in endoscopic procedures, surgery is performed through narrow endoscopic tubes or cannulas inserted through small incisions in the body.

Currently, minimally invasive surgical techniques for hernia repair utilize surgical fasteners, e.g., surgical tacks, staples, and clips, to secure the mesh to the tissue to provide reinforcement to the repair and structure for encouraging tissue ingrowth. Surgical fasteners may be deployed with a surgical fastener applier through a mesh and into tissue below.

Challenges may be presented in affixing a mesh over a hernial defect with surgical fasteners, e.g., in instances involving irregular or uneven surface geometries, or in situations when internal body structures are subject to movement and shifting. However, it is desirable to minimize the number and size of surgical fasteners deployed through a mesh to minimize trauma to the tissue below. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a surgical fastener that is configured with optimized mesh retention properties, while minimizing the portion or size of the surgical fastener inserted into tissue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical fastener is disclosed, and includes a head section and a tissue snaring section. The head section includes an engagement member pivotably disposed on an outer surface of the head section. The tissue snaring section defines a longitudinal axis and extends away from the head section. At least one helical thread defined along an outer surface of the tissue snaring section. The tissue snaring section is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis in a first radial direction, and the engagement member is configured pivot outwardly from the head section in the first radial direction.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the head section includes a threaded section. The engagement member may be disposed radially adjacent the threaded section of the head section. In another aspect of the present disclosure, the engagement member is biased toward a radially outward position. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the engagement member has an arcuate configuration.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical fastener is disclosed, and includes a head section and a tissue snaring section. The head section includes an engagement member pivotably disposed on an outer surface of the head section. The tissue snaring section defines a longitudinal axis and extends away from the head section. At least one helical thread is defined along an outer surface of the tissue snaring section. The engagement member is configured such that, in a first condition of the surgical fastener, the engagement member is disposed radially inward with respect to the outer surface of the head section such that a first transverse head section diameter is defined, and in a second condition of the surgical fastener, the engagement member is disposed radially outward with respect to the outer surface of the head section such that a different, second transverse head section diameter is defined.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the head section includes a threaded section. The engagement member may be disposed radially adjacent the threaded section of the head section. In another aspect of the present disclosure, the engagement member is biased toward a radially outward position. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the engagement member has an arcuate configuration. In the first configuration, the arcuate configuration of the engagement member may approximate the curvature of a surface of the head section.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the engagement member is configured to pivot between and including 0 degrees and 180 degrees. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the surgical fastener is configured to be disposed within a delivery device, and is configured to be maintained in the first condition by engagement with the delivery device.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of deploying a surgical fastener including a head section including an engagement member pivotably disposed thereon and a tissue snaring section extending away from the head section is disclosed. The method includes loading the surgical fastener in a delivery device such that the engagement member of the head section is disposed in a first, radially constrained configuration, and advancing the surgical fastener out of the delivery device such that the engagement member pivots radially outward with respect to the outer surface of the head section in a second, deployed configuration.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the method includes the step of advancing the surgical fastener includes actuating the delivery device. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the method further includes further the step of advancing the surgical fastener through a mesh and into tissue such that, in the deployed configuration, the mesh is compressed against tissue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be appreciated by reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side, perspective view of a surgical fastener according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2A is a top plan view of the surgical fastener of FIG. 1 in a first configuration;

FIG. 2B is a top plan view of the surgical fastener of FIG. 1 in a second configuration;

FIG. 3A is a bottom plan view of the surgical fastener of FIG. 1 in the first configuration;

FIG. 3B is a bottom plan view of the surgical fastener of FIG. 1 in the second configuration;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the surgical fastener of FIG. 1 shown transitioning between the first configuration and the second configuration;

FIG. 5 is a side, cut-away view of a delivery device with the surgical fastener of

FIG. 1 disposed therein;

FIG. 6 is a side, cut-away view of the delivery device of FIG. 4 advancing the surgical fastener of FIG. 1 through a mesh and into tissue; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the surgical fastener deployed into a mesh as shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference now to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like elements throughout the several views, the presently-disclosed surgical fastener will be described. As used herein, the term “operator” may refer to any user, e.g., a nurse, doctor, or clinician, of the presently-disclosed surgical fastener. Further, the term “distal” refers to that portion of the surgical fastener, or component thereof, further from the operator while the term “proximal” refers to that portion of the surgical fastener, or component thereof, closer to the operator.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B, a surgical fastener 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Surgical fastener 10, as shown, may have a substantially conical configuration and defines a longitudinal axis “A.” Surgical fastener 10 includes a head section 20 and a tissue snaring section 40.

Head section 20 has a substantially flat, disc-like profile that has a proximal surface 22 a and a distal surface 22 b. Head section 20 defines a first transverse axis “B₁” and a second transverse axis “B₂” that are each orthogonal to the longitudinal axis “A” and to each other. Head section 20 comprises two opposing threaded sections 24 a, 24 b disposed that protrude radially outwardly from the head section 20. Opposing threaded sections 24 a, 24 b may have a tapered configuration and include threads 26 a, 26 b, respectively, that are configured for engagement with portions of a delivery device (e.g., a surgical tacker instrument), as will be described further below. A pair of radial gaps 28 a, 28 b are defined between the threaded sections 24 a, 24 b of head section 20, and may be positioned for engagement with other portions of a delivery device, as will be described further below.

A pair of engagement members 30 a, 30 b are disposed within the respective radial gaps 28 a, 28 b of the head section 20. Engagement members 30 a, 30 b are integrally formed with and extend from head section 20 in a cantilevered fashion.

Engagement members 30 a, 30 b may have an arcuate profile, as shown, and may lie substantially parallel to the proximal surface 22 a of the head section 20. Engagement members 30 a, 30 b may be disposed at a longitudinal position between the proximal surface 22 a and the distal surface 22 b of the head section 20. Engagement members 30 a, 30 b are configured for pivotal movement with respect to the head section 20. Engagement members 30 a, 30 b have a flexible and/or resilient configuration, and accordingly may define a spring constant. Engagement members 30 a, 30 b are biased toward a radially-outward or cantilevered configuration, as will be described further below. In some embodiments, engagement members 30 a, 30 b may include friction-enhancing features, e.g., grooves, ridges, or spikes formed thereon. Additionally, engagement members 30 a, 30 b may be formed of a material sufficient to resist deformation thereof

Engagement members 30 a, 30 b may be monolithically formed with the outer surface of head section 20. In some embodiments, engagement members 30 a, 30 b may be separable components that are attached to the remainder of head section 20 via, e.g., brazing or welding, a living hinge, or adhering.

In this manner, engagement members 30 a, 30 b are configured to pivot and flex or swing radially outwardly with respect to the remainder of head section 20. Turning to FIG. 4, the movement of engagement members 30 a, 30 b allows surgical fastener 10 to transition between a first, undeployed condition, in which engagement members 30 a, 30 b are approximated radially-inwardly toward the remainder of head section 20, and a second, deployed configuration, in which engagement members 30 a, 30 b are disposed radially outwardly with respect to the remainder of head section 20. As the engagement members 30 a, 30 b are disposed within the respective radial gaps 28 a, 28 b, engagement members 30 a, 30 b may define a radius of curvature that approximates the radius of curvature defined by the outer surface of the head section 20 within the radial gaps 28 a, 28 b to accommodate folding into the second, deployed configuration of surgical fastener 10.

The distal surface of head section 20 is formed onto the proximal end 42 of tissue snaring section 40. Tissue snaring section 40, as shown, may have a substantially conical profile that tapers from its proximal end 42 to a distal tip 44. Tip 44 defines a pointed surface that is configured for penetration of, e.g., a mesh and/or tissue, as will be described further below. Tissue snaring section 40 further includes a thread 46 formed therearound. Tissue snaring section 40 may define a maximum diameter “D_(S)” (FIG. 3) that is less than an outer diameter “D_(H1)” defined by the head section 20, as shown. In this manner, head section 20 may form a flanged surface protruding radially away from the proximal end 42 of the tissue snaring section 40.

Thread 46 follows a generally helical, distally-downward path along tissue snaring section 40. Thread 46 may have a first terminus at the proximal end 42 of tissue snaring section 40, and may have a second terminus at the distal tip 44 of tissue snaring section 40. In some embodiments, thread 46 may have first and second terminuses disposed between the proximal and distal ends 42, 44 of tissue snaring section 40. Thread 46 may have any desirable configuration suitable for a surgical fastener, e.g., single-thread or double-thread. Thread 46 may be formed onto the tissue snaring section 40 by any suitable manner, e.g., etching or molding such that the thread 46 is monolithically formed with the tissue snaring section 40, or thread 46 may be attached to the tissue snaring section 40 by adhesion, brazing, or welding.

It will be understood that surgical fastener 10 may have any configuration suitable for its intended purpose. An exemplary surgical fastener is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0282401 to Corradi, et al., the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

Turning now to FIG. 5, a distal portion of a delivery device, generally designated as 100, is shown. Delivery device 100 may have any suitable configuration, such as a surgical fastener applier or tacker instrument, to advance surgical fasteners 10 through a mesh “M” and into tissue “T” below. A suitable delivery device is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 8,114,099 to Shipp, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein.

Delivery device 100 may include an outer tube portion 102 and a coil member 104 disposed therein. Coil member 104 is a substantially resilient member that may have a flexibility profile such that the outer tube portion 102 of the delivery device 100 is biased to return to a resting position under a bending load. Coil member 104 is fixedly disposed within the outer tube portion 102 and may be attached to the interior surface of outer tube portion 102 in any suitable manner, e.g., adhesion brazing or welding. Coil member 104 includes a body 105 having a diameter “D” and being disposed in a helically wound configuration that defines pitch “P.”

Surgical fastener 10 may be loaded into delivery device 100 in any suitable manner, e.g., a stack or column. The outer tube portion 102 of delivery device 100 is dimensioned such that the engagement members 30 a, 30 b are constrained in the first, undeployed condition by the interior surface of the outer tube portion 102. Successive winds of the coil member 104 are disposed such that longitudinal spaces “S” are defined between adjacent winds of the coil member 104. In this manner, the coil member 104 has a configuration such that the opposing threaded portions 24 a, 24 b of the surgical fastener 10 may be disposed within the spaces “S” between adjacent winds of the body 105 of coil member 104.

Delivery device 100 may also include a pair of radially-opposed tines 106 a, 106 b that extend longitudinally within the interior of outer tube portion 102 to engage the surgical fastener 10. Specifically, radially-opposed tines 106 a, 106 b are dimensioned such that the each radially-opposed tine 106 a, 106 b may be disposed within the respective gaps 28 a, 28 b defined between the opposing threaded portions 24 a, 24 b of surgical fastener 10. (FIG. 1). Accordingly, the engagement members 30 a, 30 b of the surgical fastener 10 disposed within the respective radial gaps 28 a, 28 b of the surgical fastener 10 may be configured and arranged such that the engagement members 30 a, 30 b are radially offset from the opposing threaded portions 24 a, 24 b of the surgical fastener 10 such that a space is defined for the respective tines 106 a, 106 b to extend therethrough.

In use, the delivery device 100 is actuated such that the tines 106 a, 106 b rotate within the outer tube portion 102. As the opposing threaded portions 24 a, 24 b of the surgical fastener 10 are threadably engaged with the longitudinal spaces “S” defined by the coil member 104, rotation of the tines 106 a, 106 b urges the opposing threaded portions 24 a, 24 b to turn within the coil member 104 about the longitudinal axis “A” (FIG. 1), which causes distal advancement of the surgical fastener 10 through the outer tube portion 102 of delivery device 100 along a helical path defined by the body 105 of coil member 104. As the surgical fastener 10 approaches the distal end of the delivery device 100, the tissue snaring section 40 and distal tip 44 of the surgical fastener 10 protrude from the outer tube portion 102. Further engagement and rotation by the tines 106 a, 106 b causes the surgical fastener 10 to penetrate and advance through, e.g., mesh “M” and into tissue “T.”

Mesh “M” may be any suitable mesh material configured to cover a desirable portion of tissue, e.g., a hernial defect. Tissue “T” may be any external or internal section of tissue, e.g., an abdominal wall.

Turning now to FIG. 7, deployment of the surgical fastener 10 will be described. Once the head section 20 of the surgical fastener 10 advances past the distal end of the outer tube 102 (FIG. 5) of delivery device 100, the engagement members 30 a, 30 b disposed between the opposing threaded head sections 24 a, 24 b are free to flex radially outwardly. Accordingly, the engagement members 30 a, 30 b pivot about their point of attachment to the head section 20 of surgical fastener 10, and experience a degree of rotation away from the head section 20. Each engagement member 30 a, 30 b may pivot through, e.g., between about 0 degrees and about 180 degrees measured from the point of attachment of each respective engagement member 30 a, 30 b to the head section 20 of the surgical fastener 10. Accordingly, from a top plan view of the surgical fastener 10, each respective engagement member 30 a, 30 b may be disposed in a respective first quadrant Q₁ and third quadrant Q₃ measured along the pair of transverse axes “B₁,” “B₂” defined along the proximal surface of head section 20 of surgical fastener 10. Accordingly, each respective opposing threaded section 24 a, 24 b may be disposed in a respective second quadrant Q₂ and fourth quadrant Q₄. It will be understood that surgical fastener 10 may have any configuration such that any of the opposing threaded sections 24 a, 24 b or engagement members 30 a, 30 b may be disposed in any of quadrants Q₁, Q₂, Q₃, Q₄.

Accordingly, as the engagement members 30 a, 30 b are deployed radially outwardly with respect to the head section 20 of surgical fastener 10, surgical fastener 10 transitions from the first, undeployed condition, in which surgical fastener 10 defines a first engagement area “A1” determined by the maximum outer diameter “D_(H1)”of the head section 20 of surgical fastener 10, and the second, deployed condition, in which surgical fastener 10 defines a second engagement area “A2” determined by the maximum outer diameter “D_(H2)” of the head section 20, measured between the radially outward ends of the engagement members 30 a, 30 b.

With the engagement members 30 a, 30 b disposed radially outwardly in the second, deployed configuration, a greater amount of area of the mesh “M” is engaged by the surgical fastener 10 and compressed against tissue “T.” Accordingly, engagement members 30 a, 30 b facilitate the secure engagement of a mesh “M” against tissue “T,” and provide enhanced mesh retention properties, e.g., for long-term use or to minimize disengagement of the surgical fastener 10 from the mesh “M” due to shifting of the tissue “T” or other external loads applied to the surgical fastener 10, mesh “M,” or tissue “T.” In this manner, the configuration of surgical fastener 10 provides optimal mesh retention properties such that a smaller number of surgical fasteners 10 may be employed as compared to surgical fasteners devoid of engagement members 30 a, 30 b. Further, by providing the head section 20 of surgical fastener 10 with engagement members 30 a, 30 b, optimal mesh retention properties are provided without increasing the portion of the tissue snaring section 40 inserted into the tissue “T.”

It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended thereto. 

1. A surgical fastener comprising: a head section including an engagement member pivotably disposed on an outer surface of the head section; and a tissue snaring section defining a longitudinal axis and extending away from the head section, at least one helical thread defined along an outer surface of the tissue snaring section; wherein the tissue snaring section is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis in a first radial direction, and the engagement member is configured pivot outwardly from the head section in the first radial direction.
 2. The surgical fastener of claim 1, wherein the head section includes a threaded section.
 3. The surgical fastener of claim 2, wherein the engagement member is disposed radially adjacent the threaded section of the head section.
 4. The surgical fastener of claim 1, wherein the engagement member is biased toward a radially outward position.
 5. The surgical fastener of claim 1, wherein the engagement member has an arcuate configuration.
 6. A surgical fastener comprising: a head section including an engagement member pivotably disposed on an outer surface of the head section; and a tissue snaring section defining a longitudinal axis and extending away from the head section, at least one helical thread defined along an outer surface of the tissue snaring section; wherein the engagement member is configured such that, in a first condition of the surgical fastener, the engagement member is disposed radially inward with respect to the outer surface of the head section such that a first transverse head section diameter is defined, and in a second condition of the surgical fastener, the engagement member is disposed radially outward with respect to the outer surface of the head section such that a different, second transverse head section diameter is defined.
 7. The surgical fastener of claim 6, wherein the head section includes a threaded section.
 8. The surgical fastener of claim 7, wherein the engagement member is disposed radially adjacent the threaded section of the head section.
 9. The surgical fastener of claim 6, wherein the engagement member is biased toward a radially outward position.
 10. The surgical fastener of claim 6, wherein the engagement member has an arcuate configuration.
 11. The surgical fastener of claim 10, wherein, in the first configuration, the arcuate configuration of the engagement member approximates the curvature of a surface of the head section.
 12. The surgical fastener of claim 6, wherein the engagement member is configured to pivot between and including 0 degrees and 180 degrees.
 13. The surgical fastener of claim 6, wherein the surgical fastener is configured to be disposed within a delivery device, and, wherein the surgical fastener is configured to be maintained in the first condition by engagement with the delivery device.
 14. A method of deploying a surgical fastener including a head section including an engagement member pivotably disposed thereon and a tissue snaring section extending away from the head section, comprising: loading the surgical fastener in a delivery device such that the engagement member of the head section is disposed in a first, radially constrained configuration; and advancing the surgical fastener out of the delivery device such that the engagement member pivots radially outward with respect to the outer surface of the head section in a second, deployed configuration.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of advancing the surgical fastener includes actuating the delivery device.
 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of advancing the surgical fastener through a mesh and into tissue such that, in the deployed configuration, the mesh is compressed against tissue. 